St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-25
POPULAR AND PROGRESSIVE
The Minnesota & Northwestern---A
Road for the People.
ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS
Destined to Become Of Still Greater
Importance in the Commerce
of the World.

Ever since it became apparent that
the great Northwest would be rapidly
peopled by thrifty emigrants and steady
going farmers from the Eastern states,
a never-ceaSlng strife has existed among
the railroads centering in Chicago. All
were anxious to reach and help to devel-
op new territory in the cause of civil
ZatiOn-and their respective stock
holders. Some of them have been
honorable in their dealings with
the people and gained thereby respect,
and the moral support of communities,
which is at times so desirable for rail-
road cOmpany'S welfare. Other COM
panies have pushed their way into the
Northwest by means which if employed
by private Individual would place his
neck in serious danger. But this article
is not written for the purpose of making
comparisons; it is to tell what one cor
pOration-One with a Well-deyelOped
soul-has done. The Minnesota 81
Northwestern railway has accomplished
great things in a comparatively
short time, and will undoubtedly do in
finitely greater in the near future. This
statement is based on what has already
taken place, within few months. Gil
gantic schemes have been projected
time and again by parties simply to
gain notoriety; but the projects of the
Minnesota Il Northwestern have as
sumed tangible form, even before the
railway world in general has become
aware of it. The establishment of stock
yards at South st. Paul, big thing in
itself, was only preliminary step to-
ward the vast enterprise that will soon
be known as one of the most stupendouS
undertakings in the history of COM
merce. The transportation of the prin-
west to the Atlantic coast, and
thence to England, is about as much as
any one set of men could handle; but
A. B. Stickney is not an ordinary indi-
vidual, nor are his fellow officers of the
Minnesota IL Northwestern anything
like the common run in the matter of
brains. 1t is possible to do this thing,
and will in very short time be done
with the same facility with which mer-
chandiSe is now carried between the
two stations on railroad. In recent
issue the New York Times prints an eX-
hauStive article, from which the follow
ing is taken:
'The scheme as adopted included the
reorganization of the Minnesota IL North
western and Chicago, Kansas City u st.
Paul road and their consolidation under
one management; the establishment OF
stock yards, elevators, warehouses and
docks at or near New York, and event
ually the establishment of new line Of
transatlantic steamers to ply between
New York and Barrow. The working
out of such an elaborate scheme would
of necessity require much time; but it
was at once begun, and gradually,
quietly, and without eXtravagant DEM
no 1arc int nf
practical men engaged in the enterprise
have been assuming tangible shape.
The railroad building and extension
continued; tunnels to shorten the north
west route were begun and will be COM
plete within month fir m this date, and
Yesterday at st. Paul, where the general
offices of the Minnesota & Northwest
ern railroads are situated, a meeting
was held for the purpose of CONSOLIDATE
ing the two roads under the name of the
Chicago, Kansas City IL st. Paul Rail
way company"
All that this means for st. Paul and
Minneapolis cannot be readily estimated
Just now. But that it will place these
two cities among the most important,
commercially, in the world, cannot be
not slow to recognize the corporation as
a great benefactor. The people have
given almost unanimous approval, and
the heartiest sympathy to every move
on the part of the road. The difficulties
the road met with i'll getting into st.
Paul have not been forgotten, nor have
its efforts to reduce tariffs to reasOna-
bic basis. In turn, the road has done
everything it could in the inter-
est of the cities. Two years ago.
when it built through the swamps of
West st. Paul, and crossed the river On
its own magnificent iron bridge, that
part of the city was a sorry looking
landscape indeed. In few months the
adjacent low land was filled in, graded,
streets laid out and fine brick business
houses built on them. Property ad-
vanced in localities ten-fold in
value; manufactures sought loca-
lions, and thousands of workingmen
found employment and established
homes. All in two years.
Last August the company put on the
road the most elegantly furnished train
that was ever seen in the West; moth
ing that luxury or convenience could
suggest was omitted. 1t attracted great
attention all along the line.